Nasal inhaler



J. H. TOBLER NASAL INHALER May 23, 1939.

Filed Aug. 27, 1937 INVENTOR 1% John H Tablet ORNEY Patented May 23, 1939 UNITED STATES NASAL INHALER John H. Tobler, Waterbury, Conn., naignor to Scovlll Manufacturln Conn., a corporation Application August 27,

7 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in inhalers and particularly in the type using a medicated filler or a. crystal or granular substance adapted to produce vapor or fumes for inhalation in treatment of nose and throat ailments.

One of the objects of this device is to provide a construction which, when a medicated absorbent filler is used, is designed to permit an easy flow of air through the device subjecting the air to the maximum surface area of the filler so as to saturate it with volatile fumes therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inhaler device which by having its air intake and outlet openings in the same end of the device requires only a relatively short cap for its sealing means. Provision is also made for sealing the interior container at both ends when the device is not in use.

The invention may be described briefly as consisting of a pair of telescopic shells automatically urged by a spring member to a predetermined extended axial position by the removal of the sealing cap, thus opening all the ports. A sealing cap is provided with a washer in its domed end, and is adapted to have threaded engagement with the outer shell. When the cap is threaded home upon the device, it not only closes tightly upon the formed end of the interior shell but also forces this shell in opposition to the spring member, into a close ill; at its opposite end with a sealing washer lying in the bottom of the exterior shell.

A still further object is to provide an inhalant device of neat appearance, simple and inexpensive construction, easily operated, and designed to be carried in the vest pocket or a handbag convenient for immediate use.

The full nature of the invention along with 40 other objects and various advantages thereof will be more apparent from a consideration of the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the inhaler.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the same on a slightly enlarged scale showing the shells retracted and the device in its closed sealed position.

Figure 8 is a similar view, but with the cap removed and shells protracted in condition for use;

Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the several parts of the inhaler as they appear before assembly, and- Flgure 5 is a top plane view on an enlarged I Company, Waterbury, of Connecticut 1937, Serial No.- 161,256

scale of the container shell closure end showing the expansion spring attached thereto.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral l0 indicates a relatively long hollow interior container shell having an open lower end and the opposite end formed in a conoidal shaped nasal portion ll designed to conform comfortably to a person's nostril. The apex of the nasal portion is provided with a d scharge aperture |2 surrounded by a depending flange l3 drifted inwardly from the apex of the nasal end, serving to provide a smooth rounding orifice into the device without any objectionable sharp edges.

The lower open end of the container shell, after it has been charged with a suitable inhalant, as described later, is closed by means of a cupped closure shell l4 having a forced axial fit into the open end of said container shell l0 against an inwardly formed stop rib 15. The base of the closure shell '4 is formed axially with an inward truncate conic portion IS, the upper plane l6a of which serves as a seat for a wad of absorbent material saturated with a suitable medicament, the wad being shown in dotted outline in Figures 2 and 3, and indicated by the numeral 11.

The container shell I0 is adapted to be telescopically received within an exterior body shell l8 having a closed lower end I9 and an open upper end provided with 3. rolled threaded portion 20 adjacent thereto. It is to be here noted that the shells I0 and I8 are constructed so as to provide for an intermediate annular air space or chamber X and the shells are retained in substantial co-axial alignment by reason of the inwardly rolled threads 20 at the upper end of the body shell I8 and an inwardly formed bead 2| adjacent to the lower end of the body shell I 8.

The dimensions or depth of the bead 2| is designed to leave sufllcient space between the minimum diameter of the bead and the container shell ID as to allow for a sumcient air passage therebetween. It will also be evident that a free air passage is provided at the upper end of the shells I 0 and I8 in the nature of a helical groove 22 existing as the concave element of the rolled thread 20 in the body shell It.

The inner base end I! of the body shell 18 serves as a seat for a sealing disc 23. The container shell l0 and body shell it are adapted to be normally urged in a protracted axial position by means of a light helical expansion spring 24 disposed between the sealing disc 23 and the adjacent end of the, closure shell ll. The shells in has been completely assembled into said body For, convenience in assembly, the spring is preferably attached to the closure shell II. To

this effect the expansion spring 24, as best shown in Fig. 5, is provided with an integral transverse tang 24a serving to engage in the hooked end 25 of a tongue member 26 projecting into an opening21 pierced through the upper plane Ilia of the closure shell H. The opening 21 servesas an intake passage into the container shell In. In order to assure additional ingress openings into the container in case the wad i1 should perchance rest upon the top plane lea of the conicsection IS in such a manner as to block off the opening 21, provision" is made of a plurality of apertures 28 pierced through the inclined walls ofthe conic section I8. I

In order to seal the inhalant device when not in use there is provided a closure cap 29 having a threaded section adjacent its lower open end for detachable engagement with threaded portion 20 of a body shell ill. The crown end of a cap 29 is formed with a reduced upwardly extending hollow projection 3| forming a suitable interior seat for a sealing disc 32, the latter serving to close off and seal the opening dmharge aperture l2 in the nozzle end of the container shell HI, when the cap is assembled to the inhaler device.

In making provision for loading or charging the device with a suitable inhalant and assembling all the parts, said parts are so constructed as to'permit entrance through the open end of the shell either the wad ll saturated with a proper inhalant or an inhalant in crystallized form. After the shell i0 is so charged the closure shell i4 is preferably assembled by a forced fit into the open end of said shell l0 against the rib l5, 'it being understood that the spring 24 may be already attached to the closure cap l4 3 in the manner previouslydescribed.

The container shell i0 is then assembled into the body shell 18 by first telescoping the shell it! into the shell l8 until the nubs 2s engage the upper threaded end of the latter shell, where- "upon the shell [0 is given several right hand turns causing the nubs 25 to be threaded through the threads 20 of the shell l8. After the nubs 25- have cleared the inner helix of the thread 20 the spring 24 will have been carried into engagement with the sealing disc 23; the spring 24 tending at all times to force thecontainer seal I0 up- 'end of the container shell i0 and the adjacent sealing disc 23 and then upwardly through. the

, apertures provided in the closure shell H. The

before its passage out through the discharge aperture I2.

When the device is not in use the closure cap 29 is assembled upon the body shell It by the Thus it will be seen that when the cap 29 has been assembled its fullest extent both'open' ends of the container shell ill will be completely sealed off from the :rest of the deviceretaining the fumes within the inhaler device for futureuse.

telescopically interfitting outer and inner shells having an air passage therebetween, said shells having axially slidable movement relative to each other between predetermined limits, the inner shell having an ingress opening at its inner end and the outer shell carrying a sealing disc in its closed end, resilient means for normally holding the shells in extended axial position, and an imperforate cover member having detachable connection with the outer shell forv closing the open and airtake end thereof and when assembled thereto capacitated to retract said telescopic shells together causing the open end of said inner shell to seat against said disc in the base of said outer shell as a seal.

2. In an inhaler device, an outer shell having a closed base end and an open opposite end with threads formed adjacent thereto, a sealing disc disposed within the base end of said outer shell, an inner shell having an open base end and an opposite rounded nozzle end with an apical discharge orifice, said inner shell designed to be .slidably interfitted -within said outer shell with its open end adjacent said disc and allowing for an annular air chamber between said shells,

' means for holding said shells in coaxial align- -ment and axially movable relative to each other between predetermined limits, means having an air passage into the interior of and serving to close off the open end of said inner shell for retaining an inhalant material therewithin, an expansion coiled spring disposed between said latter means and said disc for urging said inner shell to extended position unseating the adjacent end of said inner shell from said disc and allowing air to circulate from said chamber into said inner shell, and a closure cap carrying a sealing disc in its crown end and adapted to have threaded engagement with said outer shell thread, said cap when threaded completely to said outer shell capacitated to simultaneously seal off the discharge orifice and retain the shells of said outer shell.

3.' In an inhaler device, a body shell having a closed base end, a sealing disc seated in said base end, a container shell retained within said body shell in concentric spaced relationship and axially slidable between defined limits, the inner end of said container shell being open and the outer end formed with a rounding apertured nozzle portion adapted to project beyond the open end of said body shell, said container shell adapted to receive an absorbent wad medicated with the desired inhalant through its open end, a closure means fitted into said open end and having an air intake opening and an inwardly projecting support for retaining said wad in an elevated position within its respective shell, spring means disposed between said disc and said closure means for normally urging said container shell to protracted position, and an imperforate closure cap having threaded engagement with said body shell and when assembled thereto capacitated to retract said container shell into sealed engagement with said disc against the influence of said spring.

4. In an inhaler device, a body shell having a closed base end, a sealing disc seated in said base end, a container shell retained within said body shell in concentric spaced relationship and axially slidable between defined limits, the inner end of said container shell being open and the outer end formed with an apertured nozzle portion adapted to project beyond the open end of said body shell, a closure means having air passages fitted into said open end for retaining an inhalant material within said container shell, the base end of said closure means having an inwardly formed truncated conic portion, a spring means having one end disposed within the pit of said conic portion and the other end resting against said disc for normally urging said container shell to protracted position, and a closure cap having threaded engagement with said body shell and when assembled thereto capacitated to retract said container shell into sealed engagement with said disc against the influence of said spring.

5. In an inhaler device according to claim 4 wherein means is provided within the pit of said truncated conic portions for attaching said spring thereto.

5. In an inhaler device according to claim 4 wherein the upper plane of said truncated conic portion of said closure means is provided with a piercing having a tongue projecting thereinto, and the adjacent end of the spring formed with a transverse tang, the inner end of said tongue formed with hooked portion engaging around said tang for holding the spring attached to said closure means.

7. In a container device comprising a pair of tubular shells interfitted in spaced concentric relationship, the outer shell having a closed base end and an opposite open end, the inner shell having an open base end and a closed opposite end with a discharge port, inwardly rolled threads formed adjacent the open end of said outer shell, two or more nub means formed outwardly at the intermediate portion of said inner shell, said nubs being axially disposed on a pitch corresponding to the pitch of said threads, said nubs serving to permit initially threading of said inner shell into said outer shell until said nubs have cleared through said rolled threads after which said shells are adapted to have axially slidable engagement relative to each other, and spring means disposed between the inner ends of said shells and serving to normally hold said inner shell in protracted position with the nubs abutted against the innermost helix of said threaded portion as a stop.

Jm H. TOBLER. 

